Jura vs Delonghi

Quick Answer: Jura makes better superautomatic espresso machines than Delonghi. Only Delonghi makes a machine under $1000. If your budget is under $100 then I’d recommend the Delonghi Magnifica Evo. If it is over $1,000 then I’d recommend the Jura D6.

This is my comparison of Jura vs Delonghi’s ranges of superautomatic espresso machines.

Since both manufacturers offer a wide range of super automatics, I’m going to compare these two brands’ offerings in three different price brackets:

• Under $1,000
• $1,000 – $1,500
• $1,500+

I’ll also talk about the pros and cons of each of these brands more generally so you can see which one best suits your needs.

Let’s get started.

Should I Get a Jura or Delonghi Espresso Machine?

If your budget is under $1,000 you should get a Delonghi machine, namely the Delonghi Magnifica Evo with an Automatic Milk Frother. 

Jura only makes espresso machines without any milk functionalities for under $1,000, and I think that this line of Jura machines is overpriced considering their lack of versatility.

If your budget is between $1,000 and $1,500 then I’d recommend the Jura D6.

If your budget is over $1,500 then I’d recommend the Jura E8.

What Are the Differences Between Jura and Delonghi?

Jura only makes super-automatic espresso machines whereas Delonghi makes espresso machines with portafilters as well as super-automatic espresso machines.

Jura makes better quality super-automatic espresso machines than Delonghi. 

Jura machines make better-tasting drinks and generally last longer than Delonghi machines.

However, Delonghi super automatics start at a lower price than Jura and a Delonghi espresso machine will cost less than a Jura with the same functionalities.

I’m now going to compare the two manufacturers across the following six criteria:

• Quality of coffee
• Quality of milk foam
• Functionalities
• Ease of use and cleaning
• Design and build quality 
• Value for money

Quality of Coffee

Jura machines make better-tasting espresso than Delonghi machines, however, this difference is marginal.

Jura uses a patented “pulse extraction process” in their espresso brewing system. This slows down the brewing process, allowing for more extraction to occur and creating a stronger, more complex flavored espresso than you would get with a Delonghi machine.

In his comparison of super-automatic espresso machines, baristas, and coffee YouTuber James Hoffmann said that Jura makes the best-tasting espresso of these machines, but that Delonghi’s espresso was not far off this. You can see his thoughts below (watch from 5:30 – 7:30 for Delonghi and 11:55-15:00 for Jura):

Quality of Coffee Winner: Jura (but only just)

Quality of Milk Foam

Jura machines make better milk foam than Delonghi machines. The difference in quality between the two machines’ milk foam is bigger than the difference between their espresso quality.

My favorite thing about my Jura E8 is its milk foam. It’s basically as good as what you get when you order a cappuccino or latte in a coffee shop:

In his comparison of super-automatic machines, James Hoffmann was disappointed with the Delonghi Dinamica Plus’s milk foam saying that the bubbles in it were too large. He rated it as “a 4/10” (watch the above video from around 19:10). 

Hoffmann agreed that Jura’s milk foam was much better in comparison, and this matches my experience of the machine.

Quality of Milk Winner: Jura

Functionalities

While a Delonghi espresso machine will offer you more drink types than a similarly priced Jura machine, Jura machines let you customize your drinks much more easily than Delonghi ones.

The two machines basically offer you the same variety of coffee, but with Jura machines, you might have to make a coffee type through customizations (i.e. you can make a flat white by selecting a cappuccino and reducing the amount of milk used) rather than through the machine’s base presets.

The only time that these two manufacturers’ machines radically differ in terms of their functionalities is with their entry-level machines.

Jura espresso machines under $1,000 can only make black espresso drinks. They do not have milk functionality.

Delonghi espresso machines in this price range can steam milk (they will either have a steam wand or an automatic milk frother). You can therefore make a much wider range of coffee drinks with a cheap Delonghi machine than you can with a cheap Jura machine.

Functionalities Winner: Delonghi

Design and Build Quality

Jura machines look more elegant and generally last longer than Delonghi machines.

Jura machines are sleeker-looking and just “feel” more expensively built than Delonghi machines.

Delonghi machines’ exteriors often feel very plasticky.

Jura machines have much better-looking and more responsive control panels than Delonghi’s which further indicates a higher build quality.

Both manufacturers offer two-year warranties on their machines.

Design and Build Quality Winner: Jura

Ease of Use and Cleaning

Jura machines are easier to make coffee with and to clean than Delonghi machines.

It’s easier to make a coffee with a Jura espresso machine than with a Delonghi because Jura machines allow you to customize your coffee’s strength and size on the fly as it’s brewing, whereas with a Delonghi you need to “hard code” these customizations before you make each drink.

This means that if you have lots of people with different preferences using a Delonghi then you need to constantly change the customization settings. With a Jura, you can just make each change as you brew.

Both machines can flush out their internal pipes, however, it’s much easier to clean the Jura’s milk system than the Delonghi’s one.

Juras milk-steaming system is self-cleaning, you can see a video of how it works here (watch from 40 seconds to 65 seconds).

Delonghi’s automatic milk frother needs to be taken apart from the machine and cleaned manually (it is dishwasher safe, fortunately).

Ease of Use and Cleaning Winner: Jura

Value for Money

Delonghi has cheaper entry-level machines than Jura, however, Jura’s premium machines offer better value for money than equivalent Delonghi machines.

Jura’s superior build quality compared to Delonghi means that the machine should pay itself back more due to its longevity.

I’d rather pay 20% more for an espresso machine that will have twice as long of a lifespan.

The downside with Jura is that their cheapest machines are much more expensive than Delonghi. Jura doesn’t really do a budget option, so if you aren’t willing to break the bank for your machine then your only option is Delonghi.

Value for Money Winner: Delonghi for cheaper machines, Jura for more expensive machines

I’m now going to compare six specific Jura and Delonghi units against each other.

These machines will cover three different price points:

• Entry level (under $1,000)

• Mid-market ($1,000 – $1,500)

• Premium ($1,500 – $2,500)

Entry Level: Jura A1 vs Delonghi Magnifica Evo

I’d recommend the Delonghi Magnifica Evo over the Jura A1, as the A1 does not have the ability to steam or froth milk. 

Although the Jura A1’s espresso is better than the Delonghi Magnifica Evo, I would still recommend the Delonghi because of its extra versatility over the Jura.

I also really like the fact that the Delonghi has a control panel that makes all its drink options available at the touch of a button. 

Most super-automatic machines in the Magnifica’s price range are operated by dials and (fairly cryptic) symbols, so the Magnifica’s use of words and pictures to illustrate each coffee type makes it the easiest to use the super-automatic machine in this price range.

The Delonghi Magnifica Evo is also typically around 15% cheaper than the Jura A1.

I’d only recommend the Jura A1 if you already have some other means of frothing milk and want to make the best espresso possible with your super-automatic machine.

Entry-Level Machine to Avoid: Delonghi ESAM 3300 Magnifica

I often see the Delonghi ESAM 3300 Magnifica being touted as one of the better affordable Delonghi super-automatic machines, so I’d just like to warn you about my very negative experience with the machine.

This was one of the most frustrating coffee machines I’ve ever used. I hated it for the following reasons:

• It was so loud when you turned it on that it would annoy my housemates even when they were on the floor above my kitchen.

• It kept on asking me to empty my used coffee grounds chamber even when it was empty, and it often refused to brew because it thought this chamber was full.

• It had a warning light that kept on going on for no obvious reason, and the machine refused to brew because of it. The instruction manual had no help on why this happened.

Although the machine’s espresso was decent (but not anything amazing) it was so temperamental that I gave up on it altogether after two weeks.

I talk about these issues in more depth in my Delonghi Magnifica ESAM 3300 review.

Mid Priced: Jura D6 vs Delonghi Dinamica

I’d recommend the Jura D6 over the Delonghi Dinamica as the Jura makes better-tasting drinks than the Delonghi.

While the Jura D6 may seem to offer a smaller range of drinks than the Delonghi Dinamica, you can essentially make any milk-based espresso drink you want by adjusting the volume of milk that the machine dispenses in each of its drinks.

For a flat white, brew a cappuccino but reduce the amount of milk used.

For a latte, brew a cappuccino but increase the amount of milk used.

The Jura D6 executes each of its drinks better than the Delonghi Dinamica (especially its cappuccino).

Since the two machines are neck and neck in terms of price, I can’t think of any circumstance where you should go for the Delonghi Dinamica over the Jura D6.

Premium: Jura E8 vs Delonghi Dinamica Plus

I’d recommend the Jura E8 over the Delonghi Dinamica Plus. Again the big difference here is drink quality, the Jura E8 executes its drinks better than the Delonghi Dinamica Plus.

Delonghi tries to “add value” to its premium machines by increasing the coffee types that it offers.

This strategy does not work for me. Super-automatic machines are not designed in a way to allow them to make big pots of coffee or iced coffee.

Jura has instead focussed on improving their machine’s user interface and their execution of existing coffee types (all centered around espresso).

This is for me why the difference in quality between Jura and Delonghi grows in favor of Jura as you get to the more expensive machines and why I’d always recommend the Jura E8 over the Delonghi Dinamica Plus.

Final Thoughts

While Delonghi makes better super-automatic espresso machines under the $1,000 price point, Jura’s mid-market and premium espresso machines are superior to Delonghi’s.

My pick of the bunch would be the Jura D6. I think that it offers the best value for money from all these manufacturers’ machines.